Baldpate Inn has SEVEN keys. The novelist has one. The other six fall into the hands of six apparent lunatics--(1) a hermit who flees from barbers and women has a key, (2) a peroxide blonde who "just loves" men has a key, (3) a college professor who has been laughed out of his job has a key, (4) a political "boss" who eats cigars alive and he has a key, (5) a Belle of High Societee has a key, (6) a bold, bad clubman who has a key and--The Girl. She (bless her) hasn't a key, you notice, but she provides one--to the mystery that Baldpate Inn immediately becomes soaked in.

"I know it's closed," smiled Magee. "That's the very reason I'm going to honor it with my presence. I'm sorry to take you out on a night like this, but I'll have to ask you to lead me up to Baldpate. I believe those were Hal Bentley's instructions--in the letter."

I agree with the reviewer who wrote that the book starts off well but then lags in the middle. Even though there is action in the middle, it still seems dull. I skipped to the end. This was made into a movie with the same title.

Novelist William Magee comes to spend a winter at an isolated summer resort in order to write his opus in solitude. Instead, he finds the supposedly deserted hostelry peopled with a colorful cast of characters, all intent on a mysterious McGuffin locked in the hotel safe. A beautiful and elusive woman draws him into the chase.

The novel starts off well, wittily told and intriguing, but bogs down at the end. The mystery's ultimate solution seems prosaic and its long, narrative explanation dull.

A hotel closed for the winter, a snowy night, our hero and a key begin this delightful mystery. As we soon learn, our hero looking only for solitude, isn't the only one with a key. Other colorful characters arrive one by one and Biggers' descriptions and snappy writing style promises a wonderful read. I just learned that Earl Derr Biggers wrote the Charlie Chan series. No wonder "Seven Keys to Baldpate'' is so good!

Oh, yes, you have to read this! What fun. Who are these people? Is anybody who he/she says he is? Why are they converging on this "closed" inn? In a way, it reminded me of the movie "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World." I enjoyed it thoroughly, as I did Biggers other work on Manybooks, "The Agony Column," which is not to be missed. Enjoy.

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